Cigarette extinguisher



Dec. 10, 1963 s. CARLSON 3,113,577

CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER Filed Sept. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r INVENTOR.

SPEALl/VG CARZSO/V 20 J BY A 7-7-0 RNEYS Dec. 10, 1963 s, CARLSQN CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5, 1962 SPERLl/VG CA/PLSO/V W 426% ATTORNEYS United States Patent ice 3,113,577 CEGARETTE EXTH J Sperling Carlson, 915 22nd Ave. v' Duluth, Minn. Filed Sept. 5, 1962, er. No. 221,562 6 Claims. (Cl. 13123'7) This invention relates to a new and improved means for snufing out the burning ashes of cigarettes, cigars and the like; in particular, the invention is concerned with a novel combination, suited for either mounting on an ash tray or for use by itself, adapted to apply positive mechanical means to snuff out and squeeze the burning end of a cigarette, cigar or the like.

Many cigarette extinguishers land snuffers employ structure adapted to facilitate the hand snuifing and/or extinguishing of a cigarette. These types typically include a conical shaped body having a lower opening of less diameter than a cigarette. By forcing a cigarette into the upper end of the structure the lower burnin end is wedged into contact with the side walls of the extinguisher. By constructing the device of thin heat conducting material, the heat from the burning end of the cigarette is dissipated through its contact with the lower end of the cone-shaped body. In theory, the resulting cooling action ext-in guishes the cigarette by thermal conduction; however, such devices are not always certain of accomplishing their desired results particularly if the zone of contact becomes coated with tar, ash, or other foreign matter that may form an insulating barrier and prevent efficient thermal conduction of the heat generated by the burning end of the cigarette. To overcome this reliance upon extinguishing by cooling action alone or by the alternative method of manually snufiing out the end of a cigarette by axial force, I have devised a combination adapted to apply positive mechanical forces to the cigarette with a minimum of effort.

It is a broad object of this invention to provide an improved cigarette extinguisher.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a cigarette extinguisher that relies upon unique mechanical means for completely and positively eliminating the burning members of a cigarette.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a cigarette extinguisher, novel means for initially squeezing the end of a cigarette and subjecting the end of a cigarette to a wiping action whereby to positively remove any possibility of a latent afterburning of the ash.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a cigarette extinguisher novel means for cushioning the parts employed for squeezing and wiping the end of a cigarette.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a cigarette extinguisher novel means for supporting and guiding the cigarette during the extinguishing procedure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cigarette extinguisher that may be easily manufactured of readily available parts, is relatively low in cost, highly eiiicient in operation, rugged in design.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cigarette extinguisher adapted for mounting on ash trays of widely varying types or adapted for portable use.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a cigarette extinguisher novel linkages adapted for easy hand manipulation to effect a combined squeezing and wiping action against the burning end of a ci arette.

These other objects and advantages of the invention will ecome more fully apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invenion is shown for purposes f illustration and not by way of limitation.

3,ll3,577 Patented Dec. 1%, M263 in the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the invention mounted upon an ash tray;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation view of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation view of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the invention with a portion of the ash tray upon which it is mounted being shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational View of the extinguisher and a part of the ash tray shown in FIG. 1 with a side wall broken away, the end walls and the ash tray therebelow being shown in section;

FIGURE 7 is a View similar to FIGURE 6 showing the side opposite to that illustrated in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 illustrating the final step in the coaction of the pressure plate and the anvil member;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 illustrating the intermediate coaction of the pressure plate and the anvil member;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, taken substantially along the line Iiiof FlGU-RE 1, illustrating the initial coaotion of the pressure plate and the anvil member;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the middle yoke member forming part of the invention;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the lower yoke member forming part of the invention; and

FlGURE 13 is a perspective view of the upper yoke means forming part of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention, indicated in its entirety by the reference character A, is shown in FIGURE 1 as being mounted upon an ash tray 20. it is, of cou'se, possible to use the invention separate from an ash tray, for example, it may be carried about as a portable extinguisher in the same manner as a cigarette lighter. The invention includes an outer body 22 having generally closed side walls 24, a rear end wall 25, a forwardly inclined front wall 28 and a sloping top 319. A flat thin bracket 32 may be attached to the lower rear of body 22 to permit the pivotal mounting of the invention upon the lip 21 of an ash tray or similar article, as indicated at 34-.

As illustrated in FIGURES 6-10, inclusive, a rigid elongated generally fiat support bar as is mounted within body 22 between walls 24- in a downwardly and forwardly inclined manner generally parallel to the slope of front wall of body 22 and in contact with the recessed bottom 23 of ash tray 2 .9. Surroundingly secured to the upper half of support bar as is an anvil member 42. Anvil member 42 consists of a thin hard outer shell as that is inclined slightly with respect to the vertical, as at 46'. Between the forward surface of support bar ll) and shell 44 is contained a layer 45 of resilient material, such as sponge rubber or its equivalent, having a wedge shape complementary to the shape of outer shell Also carried within shell 44 is a slender hook-like spring member 43 positioned between layer 4-6 and outer shell 44 and having an upper end 5i; protruding through an aperture 52 in shell 34 in a direction normal thereto.

Pivot-ally secured to the upper end of support bar 49, at 41, is an upper yoke member 659 having a pair of spaced forward arms 52 surrounding anvil member 42 and a rear cross bar 6% extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom. The free end of upper yoke member 69 is equipped with a finger engageable cross bar 66 while the lower rear part of the arms 62 are provided with a pair of apertured lugs 68. A lower yoke member 70 Support bar as extends beyond the lower edges.

is pivotally attached to support bar below anvil member it). Yoke member 78 has a p of forward arms '72 an upstanding rear cross bar 74. Arms 72 are equipped with a pair of forward apertures 7d and a pair of intermediate apertures 7%. Connection between yolte member '79 and support bar 4 3 is made by a pin 77 which mounts through apertures 76 of yoke member 769 and a corresponding aperture in support bar 4% The forward apertures 74 of yoke member 7i permit a pinned pivotal connection between the lower end of an elongated flat pressure plate 8% and the forward end of yore member '70. Pressure plate 3% is further pivotally connected intermediate its lower end and its center with the forward arms Q2 of a middle yoke member tl. The arms 92 of middle yoke member 9-) have a pair of upstanding apertured lugs 96 suited for a pinned pivotal connection, as at 98, with the lower lugs 63 of upper yoke member 6t). As indicated generally in FlGS. 1-5, the pivots di and 77 extend through the members 24 and serve additionally to position the support member with respect to the outer body 22.

Means for urging pressure plate St) in an outward direction away from anvil member 42 consists of a tension spring member 1% secured at its lower end to a post 1&2 mounted on support bar it? below low r yoke member 70 and attached at its upper end to a hook ll 4 on the outer surface of pressure plate 89 slightly above its connection with middle yoke member 9%. This construction results in a normally open tapered opening 1% etween pressure plate 89 and anvil member 42 with the upper end thereof having a width large enough to receive the end of a cigarette and the lower end thereof terminating in a gradually diminishing manner towards the lower end of pressure plate 8%.

The upper end of pressure plate 8% may be equipped with an annular cigarette guide lit) located on the rear thereof in normal register with the cigarette opening 166 hereinabove discussed between pressure plate 89 and anvil member 42.

In the operation of the invention, a cigarette is insorted with its burning end into opening 1% between anvil member 42 and pressure plate 86 as illustrated in FIGURE 10. Finger pressure in a downward direction upon cross bar 66 of upper yoke member 66 results in the clockwise rotation of member 6t) as seen in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 and the displacement of pressure plate 3d toward anvil member d2 by virtue of the pivotal con- 'nections 41 and 98 and the action of member It can be seen that pivot point 98 is located below pivot point 4-1 to accomplish this result. This initial advance of pressure plate 8t towards anvil member 43 causes a squeezing action to be exerted upon the ashes of the end of the cigarette. The ashes and embers caught by the initial interaction of pressure plate St and anvil member 42 are crushed therebetween. The cushioning effect atforded by the resilient layer as of spongelike material eilectively prevents the crushed ashes from freezing or packing against either anvil member 421 or pressure plate 31) due to the resulting lessening of the compressive forces exerted upon the ash particles. The ends 59 of spring members 48 are biased rearwardly by plate it and further allow for a build up in the pressure exerted without causing damage to the parts during the sqeezing stroke.

After face-to-face contact is made between pressure plate 853 and anvil member 42, pressure plate 8% is displaced upwardly in sliding contact with anvil member 42 by virtue of the linkage between it and yoke members ea, "it? and 9d. As shown in FIGURE 9, this coaction results from the pivoting of the rear 6 of upper yoke member 69 in an upward direction which causes middle yoke member Qt to be displaced upwardly with pressure plate 80. Lower yoke member 7t? during this phase of the exitinguishing process serves to pivotally hold the lower end of the pressure plate in substantial parallel relation to anvil member as the plate is moved upwardly and thus prevent binding. T he sliding relation thus obtained between pressure plate 8% and anvil member 42 constitutes a wiping action calculated to effectively clean the ashes from pressure plate 3% and anvil member 42 and at the same time choke off and cool any embers that may remain after the aforementioned squeezing action. It will be undersotod that the sneezing and the wiping actions referred to herein actually take place together when the upper yoke 52' is depressed in a single stroke. The cigarette is ejected from opening 1% during the extinguishing process.

Additional resiient stop means may be provided in the form of a resilient pad 12% of sponge rubber or similar material located along the rear face of support bar 4% beneath and engageable with the rear cross bar '74 of lower yoke member 7% during the wiping action hereinabove described. This permits of a more gradual transfer of pressure between plate 3 9 and anvil member 42 in addition to the cushioning e atlorded by resilient layer 46 contained within shell td of anvil member 42.

It will be seen that the ends it of the hook members 48 provide a stop or depth gauge for the end of the cigarette as it is inserted for snufiing. The ends 5% engage the end edge of the cigarette paper, and as a result, the cigarette is properly positioned for snufiing and ejecting.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that many substitutions and equivalents could be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A cigarette extinguishing device having a substantially stationary anvil slightly inclined with respect to the vertical, an extinguishing plate adapted to be moved with respect to the anvil, and means for moving the extinguishing plate including a first arcuately movable member overlying said extinguishing plate aud being adapted for pivotal rotation about a point intermediate the length of said first arcuately movcable member and about a first axis disposed adjacent the upper end of said anvil and through said intermediate point, first linkage means comprising a first arm, the first arm being pivotally secured at one end to said extinguishing plate and being pivotally secured at an intermediate point along the length thereof to said anvil, and second linkage means comprising a second arm, the second arm being pivotally secured at one end to said extinguishing plate at a point above said first linkage means, and being pivotally secured at its other end to said first arcuately moveable member at a point remote from said extinguishing plate, said arcuate memher having a free end opposite said connection with said second arm, said free end being adapted to be pivoted and moved downwardly, the pivotal connection of said second arm with said first arcuately moveable member being disposed below the pivotal connection of said first arcuately moveable member with said anvil, whereby arcuately downward movement of the free end of said first arcuately moveable member moves said extinguishing plate toward said anvil.

2. The cigarette extinguishing device as described in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that a stop member is disposed along said anvil, the stop member being normally arranged to extend out of said anvil and toward said extinguishing plate, and being adapted to engage the end of a cigarette whereby to longitudinally position the same between said anvil and said extinguishing plate.

3. The structure as described in claim 2 being characterized in that said stop member is resilient and retractably mounted relative to the plane of said anvil, the stop means being normally biased toward said extinguishing plate and being adapted to be moved into a retracted position into the plane of said anvil.

4. The cigarette extinguishing device described in claim ect 1 wherein means are provided for mounting said device upon an ash tray having a raised circular rim and a recessed bottom, said mounting means including hinged means secured to the rim of said ash tray, said anvil being adapted to normally rest upon the recessed bottom of said ash tray when said device is in a position of rest upon said ash tray.

5. A cigarette extinguishing device having a substantially stationary anvil slightly inclined with respect to the vertical, an extinguishing plate having an anvil engaging surface and being adapted to be moved with respect to the anvil, and means for moving the extinguishing plate including a first arcuately moveable member overlying said extinguishing plate and being adapted for pivotal rotation about a point intermediate the length of said first arcuately moveable member and about a first axis disposed adjacent the upper end of said anvil and through said intermediate point, first linkage means comprising a first arm, the first arm being pivotally secured at one end to said extinguishing plate and being pivotally secured at an intermediate point along the length thereof to said anvil, the other end of said first arm being arranged to engage the lower end of said anvil upon pivotal rotation about said pivot point, and second linkage means comprising a second arm, the second arm being pivotally secured at one end to said extinguishing plate at a point above said first linkage means, and being pivotally secured at its other end to said first arcuately moveable member at a point remote from said extinguishing plate, said arcuate member having a free end opposite said connection with said second arm, said free end being adapted to be pivoted and moved downwardly, the pivotal connection of said second arm with said first arcuately moveable member being disposed below the pivotal connection of said first arcuately moveable member with said anvil, whereby initial arcuately downward movement of the free end of said first arcuately moveable member moves said extinguishing plate arcuately toward said anvil until further movement thereof is limited by said anvil, and whereby continued downward movement of said member is adapted to move the extinguishing plate substantially parallel to the plane of said anvil.

6. The cigarette extinguishing device as described in claim 5 being particularly characterized in that said anvil is provided with resilient mounting means adapted to normally urge said anvil toward said extinguishing plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,626,615 Buroker Ian. 27, 1953 2,740,411 Greeley Apr. 3, 1956 2,760,497 Campbell Aug. 28, 1956 

1. A CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY STATIONARY ANVIL SLIGHTLY INCLINED WITH RESPECT TO THE VERTICAL, AN EXTINGUISHING PLATE ADAPTED TO BE MOVED WITH RESPECT TO THE ANVIL, AND MEANS FOR MOVING THE EXTINGUISHING PLATE INCLUDING A FIRST ARCUATELY MOVABLE MEMBER OVERLYING SAID EXTINGUISHING PLATE AND BEING ADAPTED FOR PIVOTAL ROTATION ABOUT A POINT INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTH OF SAID FIRST ARCUATELY MOVEABLE MEMBER AND ABOUT A FIRST AXIS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID ANVIL AND THROUGH SAID INTERMEDIATE POINT, FIRST LINKAGE MEANS COMPRISING A FIRST ARM, THE FIRST ARM BEING PIVOTALLY SECURED AT ONE END TO SAID EXTINGUISHING PLATE AND BEING PIVOTALLY SECURED AT AN INTERMEDIATE POINT ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF TO SAID ANVIL, AND SECOND LINKAGE MEANS COMPRISING A SECOND ARM, THE SECOND ARM BEING PIVOTALLY SECURED AT ONE END TO SAID EXTINGUISHING PLATE AT A POINT ABOVE SAID FIRST LINKAGE MEANS, AND BEING PIVOTALLY SECURED AT ITS OTHER END TO SAID FIRST ARCUATELY MOVEABLE MEMBER AT A POINT REMOTE FROM SAID EXTINGUISHING PLATE, SAID ARCUATE MEMBER HAVING A FREE END OPPOSITE SAID CONNECTION WITH SAID SECOND ARM, SAID FREE END BEING ADAPTED TO BE PIVOTED AND MOVED DOWNWARDLY, THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID SECOND ARM WITH SAID FIRST ARCUATELY MOVEABLE MEMBER BEING DISPOSED BELOW THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID FIRST ARCUATELY MOVEABLE MEMBER WITH SAID ANVIL, WHEREBY ARCUATELY DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FREE END OF SAID FIRST ARCUATELY MOVEABLE MEMBER MOVES SAID EXTINGUISHING PLATE TOWARD SAID ANVIL. 